JPO Further Increases Its Competence to Act in the Capacity as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for PCT International Applications

Updates

The JPO to act as a competent International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for Saudi Arabia.

1. Purpose:

With an increasing number of Japanese companies creating their R&D centers in emerging markets, their intellectual property activities in these countries are becoming more important than ever. As a result, the need is rising for Japanese businesses to ensure that their inventions are appropriately acquired and protected as patent rights in these countries.

The JPO has held international discussions to increase its competency to act as an ISA and IPEA for PCT applications received by IP offices of other countries or filed with the International Bureau (IB) by such countries’ nationals or residents, so that it could contribute to facilitating the development of global business activities.

2. Usage and JPO’s competence (As of June 2022)

When choosing the JPO as ISA:

When applicants file their applications with IP offices, which act as receiving Offices listed below, or the IB, they are required to indicate “the Japan Patent Office (ISA/JP)” in Box No. VII International Searching Authority in their PCT requests (Form PCT/RO/101).

When choosing the JPO as IPEA:

Applicants must file their PCT demands (Form PCT/IPEA/401) directly with the JPO. In this connection, however, such requests are limited only to PCT applications for which the JPO prepares or has prepared international search reports.

* Applicants who meet the filing requirements for the countries in the above list may file an application with the IB and select the JPO as ISA. In such cases, the language accepted by the IB as receiving Office will be any language, and the language where the JPO is a competent ISA will be Japanese for applicants who meet the requirements for filing with Korea, and Japanese or English for applicants who meet the requirements for filing with countries other than Korea in the above list. Please refer to the WIPO website<PDF>( External link ) for an overview of the procedures to be followed by the IB as receiving Office.

** The JPO acts as a competent ISA and IPEA in respect of international applications filed at the IB by nationals or residents of the Lao PDR because its national IP office is not competent as a receiving Office.

With regard to competence to act as an ISA and IPEA for PCT international applications worldwide, please refer to the WIPO website.( External link )

[Last updated 25 May 2022]